While 195 women were enjoying their tea and cakes, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis stepped up to the podium at the third annual High Tea and Fashion Show, sponsored recently by the Soroptimist International clubs of Poway and Rancho Bernardo.

Dumanis spent seven minutes delivering some startling statistics, including the fact that 25 women have been murdered by their husbands or significant others since January 2012 in San Diego County. Dumanis was the featured speaker at “Hats On for High Tea,” a fundraiser April 21 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn that raised $16,000 for the Soroptimist International Transitional Housing Program for victims of domestic violence. That is enough money to house two women and their children for one year.

Dumanis gave the crowd an overview of how domestic violence was being fought locally, saying, “I applaud the Soroptimist Clubs for doing so much. I know you are involved in (combating) human trafficking — which is really a terrible problem we are seeing increase — but for victims of domestic violence, you can make such a difference with transitional housing. Thank you for having me here, and thank you for what you do … and carry on.”

The fundraiser began with a shopping and silent auction social hour and a fashion show by Chico’s followed by the tea.

Soroptimist International takes on some of the most life-threatening and degrading situations that women can face, especially when they are poor or disadvantaged.

Human trafficking, the importing or exporting of human beings for sexual or domestic purposes in exchange for payment, is one of Soroptimist International’s focus areas.

Eight local Soroptimist clubs are in a fundraising group called Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking and they are represented on the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition, which provides local hotline and emergency services for victims of human trafficking.

SI of Poway and Rancho Bernardo have been working together since 1996, building this program to provide homelike shelter for battered women and their children. Through this program that lasts 18 months, the mother and children move from dependency and abuse to a safe, self-sustaining lifestyle. Since the program began, 37 mothers and 79 children have reclaimed their lives in this positive, supportive environment.

Housing Works of San Diego County, a nonprofit developer and manager of affordable housing, aids SI by designating housing units for the families, and also assists with obtaining permanent affordable housing when women graduate from the program. Crisis House Inc., a community-based social service agency established in 1970, selects and places families in the homes and provides counseling, employment training, school placement and other services.

The SI clubs provide the overall coordination and management of the program. They refurbish and furnish each unit and pay the temporary rent subsidy.

Carol LeBeau served as master of ceremonies and introduced Dumanis and the program’s other speaker, a young woman in the transitional housing program with her children.